Mirac bit his tongue, holding back the thoughts swirling in his mind.
'How the hell is that possible?!'
The inexplicable age of the Rogthars—less than three months old—was a mystery that unsettled him, but he couldn't share it.
Not with Blake, who absolutely must not discover his Chaotic nature, and not with Carmen either—not now, not with the boy still present.
'Maybe I'm overreacting,' Mirac reflected. 'Perhaps the information we have on Rogthars nowadays isn't entirely reliable. Or maybe these surviving specimens are the result of a long evolution, favoring accelerated growth to better resist predators. Or perhaps-!'
"H-Hey, is everything okay?"
Mirac flinched slightly.
Blake's voice snapped him back to reality, yanking him from his thoughts.
Turning to his left, Mirac found Blake staring at him curiously, one eyebrow raised, his bloodied hands still resting on the decapitated Rogthar's body.
Mirac quickly composed himself, nodding firmly.
"Yeah, yeah. I was just… thinking." His voice was calm, but beneath the mask, his gaze darted toward Carmen, who was finishing dissecting the horned Rogthar.
'I'll talk to her when we're alone,' Mirac concluded inwardly. 'Besides, I'd be curious to know why the Rogthars hesitated to attack us at first when they saw her…'
Mirac cast one last, quick glance at Carmen, then turned back to the Rogthar's body in front of him.
With a deep breath, he pushed back the tide of doubts crowding his mind and forced himself to focus on the work again, aided by Blake.
Meanwhile, Carmen had paused for a moment, turning slightly to observe the masked boy out of the corner of her eye…
* * *
Some time passed.
The silence that had settled between the three was broken only by the wet sound of blades sinking into flesh, and the rustle of wind lifting the dust around them.
Carmen slowly got back to her feet, wiping the dagger clean with a leaf she picked up from the ground.
"I'm done here," she said, her tone flat but resolute. "What about you?"
"We're done too," Blake replied, bringing the last organs extracted with Mirac to Carmen, carefully placing them on the black cloak.
Mirac joined them a moment later, approaching as he sheathed his dagger in his belt with a swift, precise motion.
His green eyes, hidden behind the mask, scanned the loot gathered by the three Rogthars, quickly noticing how every part had been carefully arranged on Carmen's black cloak.
First, he saw three compact hearts, hard as polished stones, next to livers so dark red they looked black under the sunlight. Six glossy kidneys, two from each Rogthar, were lined up like trophies, while two pairs of round eyes, spared by the blades, stared into the void.
The black horns of the horned Rogthar, smooth and slightly curved, were tightly bound, near twelve tendons coiled like sturdy ropes. Three rough lungs lay beside three Mana glands—fragile sacs carefully isolated to avoid damage.
The hides, precisely flayed, had been rolled up to save space, while thirty sharp, bloodstained claws filled a canvas sack. A few bones—broken ribs and thigh fragments—were scattered among the rest, chosen for their manageable weight.
Finally, three vials of blood, collected by Carmen with a steady hand, were stored in a pocket of her cloak, sealed to prevent even a drop from spilling.
"Good," Carmen said, looking away from the two boys. "If there's nothing else to add, we can head out…"
With those words, she turned to the organs extracted by her and the others, carefully wrapping them in her black cloak, tying the ends together with quick but precise movements.
In a moment, she secured the bundle, ensuring nothing would spill out, then bent down and, among the debris scattered on the ground, found a sturdy stick. She lifted it with ease and used it to hoist the cloak, turning it into a makeshift sack. She slung it over her shoulder, the weight evident but perfectly manageable, thanks to her Mana-enhanced strength.
Meanwhile, Mirac moved off to retrieve Carmen's backpack, which she had left further behind before the fight.
After ensuring it was intact, he grabbed it and slung it over his shoulder, then returned to Carmen, ready to resume the journey with her.
"Thanks for helping, Blake…" Carmen said, giving the boy a nod of gratitude.
"N-No problem!" Blake stammered, flashing a genuine smile as he wiped his hands on his stained pants. "It was the least I could do after you saved me from those monsters."
Carmen nodded slightly, her cold gaze lingering on the boy for a brief moment, as if assessing him once more.
"Wait a second…" she said, in a calm but firm tone. "You're headed to Raerno too, right?"
Blake hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by the question, but then nodded enthusiastically.
"Y-Yeah, exactly! I need to get back to the city to report to the Association about the new Dungeons I found, and… well, this too," he explained, gesturing vaguely toward the cave and the Rogthar bodies scattered on the ground.
Carmen tilted her head slightly, as if weighing something.
"I see," she said. "Well, in that case, since we're all going the same way, how about traveling together?"
Mirac, who was adjusting Carmen's backpack on his shoulder, froze for a fraction of a second.
His brows furrowed beneath the mask, though no one could see it.
'Travel together?' Mirac repeated, perplexed.
It wasn't like Carmen to make such a proposal so openly, especially to a stranger.
And yet, there she was, inviting Blake to join them as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Mirac shifted his gaze to her, trying to catch some signal, a hint of what was going through her mind.
But Carmen's face was impassive, a mask of calm that revealed nothing.
'Huh! She must have some plan in mind…' Mirac told himself, suppressing the urge to ask questions.
He knew Carmen well enough to understand that if she'd made such a decision, there was surely a reason.
And that reason, sooner or later, would come to light.
For now, he decided to stay silent and observe.
Blake, unaware of Mirac's thoughts, widened his eyes for a moment, visibly surprised by the offer.
Then, his face lit up with a grateful smile.
"R-Really? I mean… yeah, absolutely, I'd love to!" he exclaimed, scratching the back of his neck with an embarrassed gesture. "I mean, how could I say no? Traveling with you would be… well, an honor, honestly. And, to be honest, I think I'd just get myself into trouble again if I went alone," he concluded with a nervous laugh.
Carmen nodded, a sharp and decisive motion, as if to close the matter.
"Alright, then it's settled. Let's get moving right away."
Blake took a step forward, eager, but then stopped abruptly, as if he had remembered something urgent.
He turned to the two of them, tilting his head with a curious expression.
"Wait a second…" he said. "Now that I think about it, I haven't asked you your names yet…"
Carmen answered first, her voice calm and controlled: "Ananya."
Mirac flinched slightly, trying not to show it.
'Ananya?' he repeated in his mind, caught off guard. 'I see… She used a fake name, of course. But… maybe she did the same to infiltrate the castle? Well, knowing her, it's very likely. I'm sure she lied to everyone about her personal details, probably using a false identity bought on the black market or somewhere else. But then… her name isn't really Carmen?!'
The thought left him puzzled.
It was a seemingly trivial detail, perhaps now even irrelevant.
But what troubled him the most now was that, all those years, he had never once thought about it!
He had always assumed that "Carmen" was her real name, never once doubting otherwise.
'Well, it doesn't matter now,' Mirac thought. 'Maybe there will be a chance in the future to find out what her real name is—or maybe not—but for now, I have other things to think about…'
With a short breath, almost a hiss through his teeth, he forced himself back to the present.
'I need to focus and choose a name fast! Something believable, but distinct enough…'
Mirac hesitated for a fraction of a second, his mind racing through options.
But then, with a steady, measured voice, he said:
"As for me, I'm Isaac."
Blake nodded with a smile, committing the names to memory.
"Ananya and Isaac, huh?" he repeated. "Well, nice to meet you!"
Carmen didn't answer, giving only a faint smile and a small nod as she started walking, the makeshift sack slung over her shoulder.
Mirac followed, still carrying her backpack, while Blake hurried to keep up, visibly relieved not to be alone anymore.
Without another word, the trio set off.
* * *
It was 2:32 P.M.
Dust rose with each step they took along the winding path towards Raerno.
Carmen led the way, the makeshift sack of organs hanging from the stick slung over her shoulder, her stride steady and resolute.
Mirac followed a short distance behind, her backpack securely strapped to his back, while Blake brought up the rear, humming a disjointed melody under his breath, his enthusiasm undiminished despite his fatigue.
Around them stretched a rugged, untamed landscape—a mosaic of jagged rocks, twisted shrubs, and patches of wild nature that seemed to silently watch the travelers pass.
None of them spoke, but the air was thick with a subtle tension, as if each was lost in their own thoughts.
At one point, Carmen stopped in the shade of a large, jutting rock. She set the sack down with a controlled motion and turned to the other two.
"Let's stop here and take a break for lunch," she said, her voice flat but authoritative.
Mirac nodded, placing Carmen's backpack next to a flat rock that seemed perfect for sitting.
Blake, with a relieved smile, collapsed to the ground with a theatrical sigh, stretching his arms.
"Great idea!" he exclaimed, a wide grin lighting up his face despite the dust caking his cheeks. "I'm starving."
The trio settled in a circle, using the rocks as makeshift seats.
Mirac pulled the leather waterskin from a small pocket in the backpack and turned slightly, giving his back to the other two to drink.
Slowly, he lifted the black mask just enough to bring the waterskin to his lips, revealing only the shadow of his jaw.
The cool water slid down his throat, a momentary relief against the journey's dust.
Then, without turning, he passed the waterskin to Carmen, who took it with a precise movement, drank, and set it beside her.
Blake, meanwhile, seemed distracted: he looked around with a confused expression, then turned to check behind him, his hands fumbling in the air as if hoping to find something lost.
"Hmm…" he mumbled, furrowing his brows in a puzzled look as he stood up.
Mirac, watching him out of the corner of his eye, noticed his awkward movements and tilted his head slightly.
"Something wrong?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity.
Blake gave one last look around, nearly spinning in place like a dog chasing its tail, but then stopped, shrugging with an embarrassed smile.
"I think I forgot my backpack with my supplies in the cave…" he admitted, letting out a nervous chuckle that sounded more like an excuse. "Hehe… Oops!"
'And you're only realizing this now?!' Mirac exclaimed inwardly, holding back an exasperated sigh.
Beneath the mask, his eyes narrowed for a moment, but he said nothing, merely shaking his head slightly.
Without voicing his thoughts, Mirac kept his back turned, using his black cloak to better conceal himself from Blake's view.
He pretended to rummage through Carmen's backpack, but in reality, his fingers touched an apple, a piece of bread, and a small bundle of dried meat—the leftovers from his previous use of magic.
After that, Mirac activated his "Multiplicative Touch" ability.
'Multiply by three…'
In his mind, the calculation materialized as white numbers against a backdrop of a starry sky, an image he saw every time he used his magic.
In an instant, he solved the equation with ease, the result replacing the question mark with crystalline precision.
A faint tingle coursed through the food he touched, and in no time, the apple, bread, and dried meat tripled: three shiny red apples, three pieces of crusty bread, and three portions of dried meat, perfectly identical to the originals.
With a casual gesture, as if nothing were amiss, Mirac turned back to the group.
He kept one portion for himself, passed the second to Carmen—who took it without comment, giving only a quick glance—and then handed the third to Blake, but not before carefully lowering his mask back over his face.
"Here," Mirac said, his voice calm.
Blake's eyes widened, visibly surprised as he sat back down on the rock.
"Oh, wow! T-Thank you… again," he stammered, accepting the food with an almost reverent gesture.
Mirac shrugged, hiding a half-smile beneath the mask. "No problem."
With that, he turned again, giving his back to Carmen and Blake.
With a measured motion, Mirac lifted his mask just enough to reveal his lips, biting into the crusty bread, then a piece of dried meat, and finally the red apple—its sweet juice dripping down his chin.
Blake watched him for a moment, head tilted and a spark of curiosity in his eyes, as if he wanted to ask why the mask never left his face.
But he didn't say anything, offering only an uncertain smile before returning to his food. 'This apple is really good!'
The trio ate in silence, the sound of their bites and the wind rustling through the bushes as the only background noise.
Carmen broke her bread with precise movements, her face as impassive as ever, while Blake devoured his portion with enthusiasm, alternating bites of apple and dried meat as if he hadn't eaten in days.
After finishing, Blake leaned back against the rock, letting out a long, satisfied sigh.
"Ahh, I'm practically full!" he declared, patting his stomach with a grin.
But not even a second passed before a deep, rumbling growl erupted from his stomach, so loud it startled a small group of birds dozing on the branches of a nearby tree.
The sound echoed through the air, breaking the silence.
Mirac raised an eyebrow beneath his mask.
'Full? Yeah, sure buddy!' he thought, mentally shaking his head as he lowered his mask again after finishing his meal.
Carmen, on the other hand, didn't bat an eye, finishing off the last bite as well.
Then, she took another sip of water from the leather waterskin before passing it to Mirac, who tucked it back into the backpack.
"Good. Now that we've all finished eating, let's get moving," she said, rising in one smooth motion and slinging the makeshift sack over her shoulder once again.
Blake flushed bright red, scratching the back of his neck with an embarrassed smile.
"Uhm… yeah, yeah, let's go!" he mumbled, jumping to his feet so he wouldn't fall behind.
Mirac stood as well, adjusting the backpack on his shoulder with an automatic gesture, the familiar weight settling against his back.
He positioned himself behind Carmen, keeping pace with her determined stride, and found himself walking beside Blake without saying a word.
* * *
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky with streaks of orange and purple as the trio continued their journey towards Raerno.
Carmen always led the way, her staff slung over her shoulder, her cloak full of organs swaying slightly with each step.
Mirac followed closely, his dagger tucked under his cloak, while Blake occasionally chatted about Raerno and its quirks.
The shyness that had held him back during the first part of the journey seemed to have vanished after lunch, replaced by a loquacity that filled the air.
Mirac responded to Blake's words with nods or brief phrases, while Carmen—or rather, Ananya—remained silent, her expression as unreadable as the black mask worn by "Isaac."
When the sun grazed the horizon, the western outline of Raerno emerged from the twilight haze.
Stone and timber houses intertwined in a messy mosaic, overlooked by squared towers rising against the fiery sky.
The roofs, uneven and covered in red tiles, caught the day's last golden reflections, giving the city an ancient, timeworn aura.
Surrounding Raerno stood massive stone walls, as imposing as those of the legendary Strongold castle.
The city's western gates, heavy and reinforced with iron plates, were lit by torches that cast dancing shadows across the burnished surface and the ground below.
Under normal circumstances, Mirac would have stood with his mouth agape, captivated by the sight of Raerno unfolding before them.
But at that moment, as the trio approached the city's towering walls, a knot tightened in his stomach.
'What is she doing?' Mirac wondered, his heart racing. 'Weren't we supposed to stop and wait for nightfall?'
According to the original plan, he and Carmen were supposed to camp nearby, waiting for darkness to sneak into the city undetected.
But Carmen didn't slow down or pause to consult him.
She kept advancing towards the gates with the same determined stride, as if the plan had changed without his knowledge.
Part of Mirac wanted to stop her, demand answers, but another part—the one that had known Carmen since being reborn into this world—urged him to trust her.
He knew all too well that every move Carmen made was always calculated in advance, and that any deviation from the plan surely hid a very specific purpose.
So, Mirac had no reason to worry or panic.
Yet, uncertainty continued to nag at him, subtle and persistent.
Despite everything, he chose to follow her in silence, without making a fuss.
After all, even if he didn't know exactly what she was plotting, he was over the moon at the thought that Carmen had likely scrapped the idea of crawling through the city's filthy sewers.
Blake, oblivious to the tension simmering in Mirac, kept talking, his cheerful voice a jarring contrast to his companion's growing anxiety.
At the city gates, a short line of travelers waited to be checked by the guards at the entrance.
There were merchants with horse-drawn carts, their wheels creaking under the weight of goods covered by tarps; warriors in gleaming armor, swords at their sides, with the weary look of those returning from a mission; and a few solitary wanderers, their faces hidden under dusty hoods.
The guards, five sturdy men with shining helmets and spears resting on the ground, watched every newcomer with keen eyes, their hands ready to consult registers or request documents.
A few minutes later, when Mirac's trio finally reached the entrance checkpoint, one of the guards, recognizing Blake, raised a hand in a friendly greeting.
"Hey, Blake! Long time no see," he said with a friendly smile, clearly used to seeing him.
Blake chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Hey, Garret! Good to see you too!"
The guard, Garret, crossed his arms with a relaxed air, his smile widening.
"So… how did this week of exploration go?" Garret asked, his tone genuinely curious.
"Very well!" Blake replied, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I found quite a few new Dungeons. Once they're confirmed by the Association, I'll definitely make a fortune!"
"Great!" Garret exclaimed, giving Blake's shoulder a friendly slap. "That way you can buy me a drink!"
At those words, the guard burst into a hearty laugh, and Blake couldn't help but join in, their good humor echoing in the cool dusk air.
'They've got a weird sense of humor…' Mirac thought, observing them silently, his mask hiding his expression.
Suddenly, Blake froze, as if struck by an urgent thought.
"Oh, right!" he exclaimed, slapping his forehead. "Garret, unfortunately, I lost my backpack with all my supplies in a monster-filled cave. My documents were in there too, so now I…"
Garret cut him off with a wave of his hand, smiling kindly.
"Don't worry, Blake," he said. "We've known each other for a very long time, ever since you were a little brat. So there's no need for you to show me your documents, you know that."
"Thanks Garret!" Blake said, his smile relieved.
Garret returned the smile, but then his gaze shifted to Carmen and Mirac, a spark of curiosity in his dark eyes.
"By the way… who are those two behind you? Travel buddies, maybe?" he asked, his tone shifting from friendly to professional in an instant. "I don't think I've ever seen them in Raerno before."
"Oh!" Blake said, caught off guard. "Uhm, they're-"
Carmen stepped forward, cutting him off with a calm, firm voice:
"We're new in town, sir," she explained briefly, gesturing to herself and Mirac. "Ananya and Isaac. Friends of Blake, basically."
Blake flinched, as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over him.
"F-F-Friends?!" he stammered, eyes wide as he turned to her.
Mirac, silent until then, noticed Blake's face light up with a gleeful, childlike grin—like a kid in front of a tray of candies.
"Friends?" Garret echoed, as surprised as Blake. "Really?"
"Exactly," Carmen confirmed, unfazed.
"I see…" Garret said, nodding slowly as he sized up the two strangers with a mix of curiosity and caution. "I guess you met during some adventure, right? Well, not that it really matters. Anyway, it's a real pleasure to meet you! I'm Garret, chief of the guards at Raerno's west gate. Needless to say, I'm in charge of keeping an eye on who comes and goes through these walls."
"The pleasure's ours, Mr. Garret," Carmen replied with a slight bow, her voice calm but polite.
Mirac, at her side, mirrored the gesture, bowing his head in respect, though his mask made it impossible to read his expression.
"Oh, come on, no need to be so formal!" Garret laughed, waving a hand as if shooing a fly. "Anyone who's a friend of Blake's is automatically a friend of mine, got it?"
Garret then shifted his attention to the sack hanging from Carmen's shoulder, noticing that it looked quite full, slightly dusty, and—most notably—stained with a few red splotches.
"Anyway, before I let you in, we'll need to take a look at that sack," he said, his tone professional again. "Don't get me wrong, though: it's just a formality to help us combat the trafficking of illegal or dangerous goods."
"No problem," Carmen replied with a calm nod, smoothly setting the sack on the ground. "Go ahead and check."
A younger guard, whom Mirac noted to be 33 years old thanks to his "Instant Knowledge of Age" ability—while Garret was 54—approached quickly.
He took the sack and carried it over to a small table near the gate, where other guards began to inspect its contents carefully, exchanging hushed words.
"Alright," Garret said, turning back to look at the trio with a relaxed smile. "While my colleagues finish inspecting the sack, do you happen to have any documents to show me?"
"No," Carmen replied without hesitation, her tone flat but not hostile.
"Hmm… As I thought…" Garret stroked his bearded chin. "Then I suppose you plan to pay the 'extra' entry fee, the one for those who wish to enter without showing their documents…"
"Something like that," Carmen said. "Unfortunately, we're short on cash right now. But no need to worry: Blake will cover our entry fee and the Temporary Transit and Residency Permit. Right, Blake?"
"…"
Blake was utterly stunned, speechless.
He froze on the spot, his smile vanishing, replaced by an expression of pure bewilderment, as if he'd just been asked to climb a mountain barehanded.
A heavy silence fell over the group, broken only by the distant sound of the guards rummaging through the sack.
"W-What?" he finally managed to say, his face a mix of shock and confusion. "Wait, I… when did we…?"
"Wait, didn't we tell you?" Carmen asked, her tone feigning surprise as she tilted her head slightly. "I was sure we'd agreed you'd cover our entry fee, and we'd pay you back once we sold our loot in the city. But now that I think about it, it must've completely slipped my mind. I hope that's not a problem for you, though."
Mirac, at her side, felt a flash of realization hit him.
'Now I get it!' he exclaimed inwardly.
Carmen hadn't invited Blake to travel with them by chance or out of kindness, but to use him as a pass—or rather, as a walking wallet to cover the expensive entry fee!
Hearing Carmen's explanation, Garret turned to Blake, cutting through his stammering with a curious look.
"Oh? Is that true, Blake?" he asked, one eyebrow raised as he studied him closely.
"U-Uhm, w-well…"
Blake opened and closed his mouth a couple more times, like a fish out of water, desperately searching for an answer.
But what could he say?
Behind him were the people who'd saved his life from those Rogthars.
Refusing would feel like spitting on their generosity—or at least, that's how it seemed to him.
With a resigned sigh, he slumped his shoulders, his arms dangling limply at his sides as if all his energy had been drained.
"W-Well, w-why not?" he mumbled, his voice a defeated whisper. "After all, they treated me to lunch! Oh, and they also saved me from some monsters…"
'Seriously? Lunch comes before your life?' Mirac thought, suppressing an ironic smile beneath his mask.
Garret raised both eyebrows, eyeing Carmen and Mirac with renewed interest.
"Really?! Well, if that's the case, I owe you guys a big favor too!" the guard exclaimed. "Blake's a great guy—a heart of gold—but sometimes he gets himself into bigger trouble than he can handle."
Garret let out a hearty laugh that echoed through the air, but this time Blake didn't join in, staring at the ground with a gloomy expression.
"Alright then," Garret said at last, straightening up and turning serious. "I'm glad we've cleared things up."
He glanced at Blake, tilting his head slightly.
"Blake, since you don't have your backpack, I'm guessing you don't have the cash on you to cover their fee either. But don't worry: when my shift's over, I'll talk to Mr. Faust and withdraw the money straight from your bank account! Normally, we wouldn't do that, but for you and your friends, I'll make an exception…" he said, winking at the boy.
"T-Thanks…" Blake murmured, a single tear sliding down his cheek, glinting briefly in the sunset's light before falling to the dust.
Mirac watched the scene in silence, a mix of pity and guilt stirring within him.
'Damn, Carmen! You're ruthless!' Mirac thought, sneaking a glance at the red-haired woman.
Meanwhile, the guard who'd taken the sack returned with a purposeful stride.
"All clear, sir!" he announced, placing the sack on the ground. "Just monster organs."
"Monster organs?" Garret repeated, raising an eyebrow.
But before he could ask the travelers anything else, he slapped a hand to his forehead.
"Oh, of course!" Garret exclaimed. "You gathered these from the monsters that attacked Blake in the cave, right?"
"Exactly," Carmen replied. "And since those monsters were from a Dungeon not owned by the Association or any Guild, collecting the loot doesn't break any rules."
Garret clapped his hands together in a decisive gesture. "You're right, great observation!"
Then, without wasting time, he turned to the younger guard standing near the table. "Hey, prepare two Temporary Residence and Transit Permits, right away! One for Miss Ananya and the other for young Isaac," he ordered, his voice authoritative but with a hint of enthusiasm.
The guard nodded quickly and walked over to a small wooden chest near the gate.
He rummaged for a moment, then returned with two beige rectangular cards, about the size of a hand, made of a smooth and durable material, similar to polished wood but lighter.
He placed them on the table and, with a steady hand, pulled out a fine-tipped pen and a small inkwell. After carefully dipping the pen, he wrote the names "Ananya" and "Isaac" on each card in elegant, indelible black cursive.
On the left side of each card, the emblem of Raerno was already stamped: a stylized sword superimposed over a brick tower.
Once the registration procedures were completed—including entering their names into the newcomers' log—the young guard returned to Garret and handed him the cards, which he accepted with a satisfied smile.
"Here you go," Garret said, handing one card to Carmen and the other to Mirac. "These are your Temporary Residence and Transit Permits. They're valid indefinitely, but be careful: if you leave the city and don't return within three days, the cards will no longer be valid. At that point, you'll have to pay the entrance fee again and request new ones. Keep them safe, and don't drop them into a campfire! It happens more often than you'd think…"
Carmen took her card with a nod of thanks, glancing at it briefly before slipping it into her pocket. "Thank you, Garret."
Mirac, following her lead, grabbed his own card, noting its lightness and smooth surface before carefully tucking it away.
"Great!" Garret exclaimed. "If there's nothing else to add, you're free to go then."
"Perfect. Thanks again, Garret," Carmen said, picking up the sack from the floor.
"You're welcome, it was my pleasure," Garret said with a gesture to let them pass. "Have a good evening, folks, and welcome to Raerno!"
After saying goodbye to Garret, the trio crossed the gates, their footsteps mingling with the hum of the city coming alive at dusk.
Raerno unfolded before them: cobblestone streets bathed in amber light, oil lanterns casting flickering reflections on the stones and the facades of old buildings.
Here and there, low voices could be heard, the chatter of people heading home or hurrying to the last open taverns.
The air was thick with a mix of smoke, burnt wood, and scents that slowly faded with the arrival of night.
As Mirac and Carmen moved forward with confident strides though, Blake trailed after them, head bowed and shoulders slumped, his steps heavy with defeat.
All his joy, that vitality that had filled the journey, seemed to have drained away completely, leaving him like a shadow of his former self.
Mirac shot him a fleeting glance, guilt still pricking at his chest.
'Poor Blake…' he thought.
But then, his gaze returned to Carmen, who pressed forward without looking back, her cloak swaying steadily.
"Thanks for covering the entry fee, Blake," Carmen said, her voice calm but with a hint of calculated courtesy. "I really don't know what we would've done without you."
"Yeah, thanks, Blake," Mirac added, thinking to himself: 'Without your help, I'd probably be wandering through the city's filthy sewers right now!'
Hearing their kind words, Blake tried to force a smile, but his lips, taut like strings, seemed to resist the effort.
"N-No problem," he stammered, his voice frail as if he hadn't drunk in days. "A-Anything for f-friends…"
Carmen turned to him with a faint smile.
"You're really kind, you know?" she said. "I promise we'll go sell the organs at the Central Market tomorrow and pay you back everything we owe you."
Blake nodded slowly, though his gaze remained distant, as if he wasn't entirely present.
'I just hope Garret doesn't take any money from my account for his beers too…' Blake's mind was constantly circling around this thought.
All of a sudden, in the midst of the city's twilight silence, Carmen let out a long, noisy yawn, stretching with a groan.
"Ahh, I'm so tired…" she murmured to herself. "I can't wait to get some sleep…"
Carmen's words made Blake stop abruptly, his eyes wide open, as if a sudden thought had pierced his mind.
"Wait a second!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with concern. "N-Now that I think about it… do you guys have a place to sleep tonight?"
"Unfortunately, no," Carmen replied lightly. "We don't have enough money to afford rooms at an inn, and of course, we don't want to get any further in debt with you. You've already helped us more than enough, I'd say. But don't worry, from here on out we'll manage on our ow-"
"No, no, no, absolutely not!" Blake interrupted, raising his voice. "There's no way I'm letting you sleep on the streets! No way, it's out of the question! My guilt would haunt me all night, and I wouldn't be able to sleep a wink! I can't treat the people who fed me lunch and saved my life like that, no way!"
Blake straightened up suddenly, puffing out his chest with a burst of newfound pride.
"Why don't you come sleep at my place tonight?" he asked, a shy smile creeping back onto his face. "I have an empty room that no one uses, and there's enough space for at least one more mattress in my room."
Carmen tilted her head, thoughtful. "That's very kind of you, Blake, but are you sure it's not a burden?"
"Of course not!" he replied, enthusiastic. "This way, tomorrow I can help you get around the city like I promised, and maybe even help you pick the best buyers for your loot."
A thoughtful silence fell over the trio, standing in the middle of the street.
"Hmm…" Carmen pondered for a long moment, her fingers slowly brushing her chin in a habitual gesture.
Then, she looked up at Blake and gave a slight smile.
"Alright," she said. "We'll accept your offer then."
"G-Great!" Blake exclaimed, beaming. "Follow me, then!"
The trio set off through Raerno's streets, with Blake leading the way, his step now lighter, as if the offer had restored some of his vitality.
Carmen followed, the sack of organs swinging rhythmically on her shoulder, her face impassive but with a glint of satisfaction in her eyes.
Mirac brought up the rear, Carmen's pack secure on his back, his mind still swirling with unanswered questions.
As the city's lanterns lit their path and the evening hum mingled with the sound of their steps, a thought crossed Mirac's mind:
'Heh, look at that! I bet even getting invited to his place was part of your plan, dear "Ananya"! A job worthy of your cunning, I must say. Now, though, I wonder what else you're planning to mooch off this poor guy…'